Giant floor maps

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Vimy Ridge Giant Floor Map

In the early morning mist of April 9, 1917, soldiers from the Canadian Corps left their trenches for an attack on German-held Vimy Ridge. By April 12, the entire ridge was under Allied control. It was the first time in the First World War that all four Canadian divisions fought on the same battlefield, and when Hill 145, the highest feature on the ridge, fell to the Allies, the operation was considered a decisive success. The ridge remained in Allied hands for the rest of the war.

This Vimy Ridge floor map is Canadian Geographic Education’s first replica of a historical map. And, to give students the best possible historical map of the ridge, we made it out of two original First World War maps sourced from the McMaster University Map Collection. This map is a unique opportunity to explore an important moment in Canadian history through a geographic lens. The giant floor map’s 10 accompanying learning activities have students reading and interpreting trench maps, exploring the physical landscape and weather of Vimy during the battle, analyzing the role of the Canadian Corps, reflecting on war poetry and war slang, and examining the location and significance of the Vimy Memorial.

Floor map dimensions:
There are two map sizes available. Each map ships with a bag filled with 10 learning activities and associated materials.